“Have I ever?”

“This is a pretty good start.”

Banks’s car was in the garage for servicing and wouldn’t be ready until after lunch, so they had signed out a department car that morning, and Annie was driving, something Banks usually liked to do himself.

“I was thinking I could sort of get to like it,” said Banks. “There’s a lot to be said for having a chauffeuse.”

Annie shot him a look. “Feel like getting out and walking the rest of the way?”

“No, thanks.”

“Well, behave yourself. Anyway,” she went on, “if you want to be all official about it, it’s the Big Man’s case. He’s the SIO, and he’s the one who suggested if I asked you nicely you might come back from leave early and give us the benefit of your considerable expertise.”

“The Big Man?”

“Detective Superintendent Gristhorpe.”

“Does he know you call him that?”

Annie grinned. “You should hear what we call you in the squad room.”

“I must say it’s great to be home,” said Banks.

Annie glanced sideways at him. “How did things go, other than your run-in with the local constabulary?”

“All a bit embarrassing, really.” Banks told her about McCallum turning out to be an escaped mental patient who drowned before Graham disappeared.

“I’m so sorry, Alan,” she said, touching his knee. “After all those years feeling guilty and responsible…But you must be relieved, in a way…I mean, knowing it couldn’t have been him, so it wasn’t your fault?”

“I suppose I must. You know, apart from the police down there, you’re the only other person I’ve ever told about what happened by the river that day.”

“You never told Sandra?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know.”

Banks felt Annie retreat into silence beside him and knew he’d done again exactly the sort of thing that caused her to end their romantic relationship. It was as if she offered him something warm, soft and sensitive, yet the moment he reached out and touched it, she shot back into her hard, impenetrable shell.

Before either of them could think of anything else to say, they arrived at the end of the Armitages’ drive, where reporters clamored around them with pens, microphones and cameras. The officer on duty lifted the tape and let them through.

“Impressive,” said Banks, when the building’s solid, symmetrical architecture came into view. “I’ve only seen the place from the riverside walk before.”

“Just wait until you meet the beautiful people inside.”

“Go easy, Annie, they’ve just lost their son.”

Annie sighed. “I know that. And I will. Okay?”

“Okay.”

“I’m just not looking forward to this.”

“Who dealt with the identification?”

“Winsome did. Last night.”

“So you haven’t seen the family since the boy’s body was found?”

“No.”

“If you don’t think I’m being patronizing, why don’t you let me deal with them?”

“Be my guest. Honest. Given my track record with Martin Armitage, I’d be grateful to be an observer this time. Fresh approach and all that.”